Prince William to train to become air ambulance pilot next year

Britain’s Prince William and King Felipe VI of Spain have a conversation at the Saint-Laurent Military Quarters in Leige Belgium before ceremonies to mark the 100th anniversary of the start of the First World War earlier this week. Prince William is training to become an air ambulance pilot. (The Associated Press / Chancellerie du Premier Ministre)

LONDON — Prince William is taking a new job: Air ambulance pilot.

Britain’s royal officials have announced that the royal will train for about five months as a helicopter pilot with East Anglian Air Ambulance. If successful, he will join the group, based in Cambridge, next spring.

Kensington Palace said Thursday the stint will be William’s main job, though he will also continue to take on royal duties and engagements both in Britain and overseas.

The royal’s duties will include flying and working with medics to respond to emergencies ranging from road accidents to heart attacks.

William ended active service as a Royal Air Force search-and-rescue pilot last year, shortly after his and his wife Kate’s first son, Prince George, was born.